Trip Report
Summertime in Boulder
Boulder
has been described as the city nestled between the mountains and reality. And
while many would think Boulder mainly caters to the many college students in
town, there is a lot to do with younger kids as well.
Downtown Boulder is centered on the pedestrian mall (Pearl St between 11th and 15th Streets), where you will find many shops, restaurants, and street entertainers. A stroll here is a good way to see the heart of the city.
Highlights
for kids are the pop-jet fountain in front of the old courthouse (Be ready
to get wet!) and the Into the Wind kite and toy store. Not far from
the pedestrian mall is the Dushanbe
Teahouse, one of our favorite places to eat. The building is a gift from
Boulder's sister city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and is really a work of art.
You can also eat outside next to one of the many waterways that flow through
the city. We really like their breakfasts and, of course, the tea is good.
Don't miss the Boulder Farmers Market-- a real happening event in town--on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings in front of the teahouse for plenty of local offerings.
For
the mountain experience, two areas in town offer easy access to trails and
other attractions. Chautauqua
Park is a historical landmark with a large green, cabins, a restaurant,
and an auditorium. The auditorium is a great place to see a concert or, on
Wednesday evenings, silent films complete with piano accompaniment. Of the
many trails into the hills from here, we like the Royal Arch trail. A nice
shorter trail is the Enchanted Mesa loop trail.
If getting to the mountaintop is what you want, the Green Mountain West Ridge trail of the Boulder Mountain Park is the easiest way to get there. The trailhead is several miles up Flagstaff Road at the back edge of the park. There are many scenic overlooks and trails along the way. Another good place to catch a trail is at National Center for Atmospheric Research or NCAR (at the west end of Table Mesa Drive). Located on its own mesa in the south part of town, NCAR is famous for housing lots of scientists and for starring in Woody Allen's movie "Sleeper" as the headquarters of the evil empire. It houses a small collection of interactive displays on the atmosphere and weather and a nice little science store. Right behind the building is a short loop trail and longer trails that take you into the foothills.
Summertime in Boulder
Boulder
has been described as the city nestled between the mountains and reality. And
while many would think Boulder mainly caters to the many college students in
town, there is a lot to do with younger kids as well. Downtown Boulder is centered on the pedestrian mall (Pearl St between 11th and 15th Streets), where you will find many shops, restaurants, and street entertainers. A stroll here is a good way to see the heart of the city.
Highlights
for kids are the pop-jet fountain in front of the old courthouse (Be ready
to get wet!) and the Into the Wind kite and toy store. Not far from
the pedestrian mall is the Dushanbe
Teahouse, one of our favorite places to eat. The building is a gift from
Boulder's sister city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and is really a work of art.
You can also eat outside next to one of the many waterways that flow through
the city. We really like their breakfasts and, of course, the tea is good.
Don't miss the Boulder Farmers Market-- a real happening event in town--on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings in front of the teahouse for plenty of local offerings.
For
the mountain experience, two areas in town offer easy access to trails and
other attractions. Chautauqua
Park is a historical landmark with a large green, cabins, a restaurant,
and an auditorium. The auditorium is a great place to see a concert or, on
Wednesday evenings, silent films complete with piano accompaniment. Of the
many trails into the hills from here, we like the Royal Arch trail. A nice
shorter trail is the Enchanted Mesa loop trail. If getting to the mountaintop is what you want, the Green Mountain West Ridge trail of the Boulder Mountain Park is the easiest way to get there. The trailhead is several miles up Flagstaff Road at the back edge of the park. There are many scenic overlooks and trails along the way. Another good place to catch a trail is at National Center for Atmospheric Research or NCAR (at the west end of Table Mesa Drive). Located on its own mesa in the south part of town, NCAR is famous for housing lots of scientists and for starring in Woody Allen's movie "Sleeper" as the headquarters of the evil empire. It houses a small collection of interactive displays on the atmosphere and weather and a nice little science store. Right behind the building is a short loop trail and longer trails that take you into the foothills.